Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided an update on injured first baseman Luke Voit today, per Marly Rivera of ESPN (via Twitter). Boone put a four to six week timeline on Voit’s return, putting him on track for a May return. The reigning AL home run king had to have a torn meniscus in his left knee repaired, which has shut him down completely for three weeks. It’s sounding like he won’t make his debut this season until mid-May.
Voit’s 22 home runs in 56 games last year not only led the league, but it marked a career high for the now 29-year-old. He broke out as a 26-year-old for the Cardinals, but 2020 was the first time he was able to be a consistent everyday regular. His 118 games played in 2019 remain a career-high, however, because of the shortened season. Whenever healthy, Voit has been a power dynamo with a .254 career ISO, .527 career slugging, and 62 home runs in 1,029 plate appearances.
In the meantime, veteran Jay Bruce got the start on opening day, and he will be at first base again today. DJ LeMahieu slid to first late in the season opener as Tyler Wade took over at the keystone. That’s a likely defensive alignment that the Yankees will deploy late in games until Voit returns.
does anyone know how Bruce grades out as a 1B? it always seemed like fitting a square peg into a round hole to me.
Considering that the position listed on his baseball-reference page is “Rightfielder”, it is safe to assume he is not very good at 1B. (Btw, it’s his birthday today!)
That’s a very reductive and simplistic way of deducing someone’s talent at a position … but, yeah, he’s not good in the field no matter how you slice it. Plus, many before have said playing 1B is more taxing on the joints and more difficult overall than corner OF.
Jay Bruce is not very good at 1B and he isn’t that good in the OF either.
Going by the eye test he is ok at best. Dont expect him on any highlight video.
It’s not like Voit was a gold glover. Not a huge drop off for their defense. It’s Voit’s bat that will be sorely missed. Only good thing Bruce brings to the lineup is his left handed bat brings some much needed balance to the mostly right handed lineup.
Just drove in a couple.
That was a good AB.
A blooper.
It was. But he put a good AB together. I’ll take it.
You’re just repeating what they said during the game. You’re a square peg
Interestingly enough I had music on as opposed to the commentary. That’s become my preference over the years. So I’ve really no idea what “they” said.
Sounds like “they” were watching the same AB as I was though & we are in accord. Thank you for letting me know.
Happy Easter.
I don’t mind Kay, but I can’t stand Sterling. Trying to give everyone a call has turned what used to be a good radio broadcast into a clown show.
Finally some Yankee news. It’s been almost 3 full days! Lol
LOL OMG SO FUNNY DUDE
Maybe mlbtr realized there are other teams?
Nice, a bit earlier than originally thought…. great news for us!
Looking forward to Voits return. I wonder how the lineup would look with Voit batting second. After first game that lineup could use a different look. Same Yankees team different season. The players are what we thought they were for the last few years. Home run or nothing.
Yep, it’s what the team is…. and that’s frustrating at times. I don’t know why they didn’t seek out a couple more DJL-types, but I guess it’s not their “type.”
No one agrees with me when I keep mentioning the Yankees need a legitimate lead off hitter like a Lindor and bat DJ second. DJ perfect second hitter. It would suck if Yankees had to trade Torres for someone like Castillo but at least the lineup would be more balanced and have more speed.
Aesthetically it is not my deal.
But.
With all the shifting, deep bullpens, max effort pitchers, etc it is the most efficient way to build an elite offense.
If I was tasked with assembling an MLB lineup, you bet your behind I’d try & assemble my offense exactly like the Yanks.
It’s the best bang for the buck & it certainly works during the regular season.
No I don’t agree with you. DJL is fine at leadoff. You want your teams’ best hitters to hit in the one and two holes to get them the most ABs over the course of the season. The Yankees need to score more runs than their opponents. It doesn’t matter how. And the offense is doing a fine job at it.
He’s a diehard.
But he perseverates on the weirdest stuff, man.
One of those is ” speedy leadoff hitters”.
The other is LH bats.
Which leads him to Judge for Hosmer (barf) trade proposals. He loves the Yanks but we should all be very thankful he is not our GM, serious.
That first game was wasted opportunities by the offense. But hey let’s blow up the team bc every game matters.
At least Judge owned it in the press conference
Aaron Judge has miles of credit with me for how he played in ’17.
I was shocked when he didn’t come through.
He’s such a great kid, man.
Voits breakout didn’t come with St. Louis. he was a minor league trade acquisition in 2018 and broke out in NY. he debuted for the cardinals, but struggled until the trade
@rpf515- let me tell you when Voit got traded here he sucked at lst. He admitted why though. He said he was pressing and trying to hit homeruns on every pitch, maybe he was trying to do this when he was in St. Louis also? Obviously he calmed down and adjusted well to NY. Glad he’s a Yankee.
For all you suckers out there who said Lukie wasn’t coming back till June, July, or longer this is for you! Lol.
Meniscus years can be finicky. When I had a minor tear cleaned up I had weekly bouts of pain and swelling for a good year afterwards. Good chance yanks will need 200 ab’s from a 5th infielder this year. I’m hoping Thairo is healthy this season.
My friend tore his and it sucked bc we had travel plans for the summer. But I think Voit is going to be fine with the best PTs and nutritionalists at his disposal.
My son tore his a couple years ago & only missed one football game. It’s typically a pretty minor surgery.
Gary Sanchez looks like he lost weight. No more gut. Let’s see if he can keep the weight off and have a good year.
Voit is pretty bad defensively at 1B also. They might continue to do this when he returns.
They should be playing their best defensive player possible at SS, move Torres to 2B, and Lemahieu to 1b. Voit will complicate things but Torres is just a liability waiting to happen imo at SS.
Wishful thinking by Yankees haters.
What are you talking about?
Luke Voit WILL be back in May. It is spoken by the high and mighty yankees. Thus, it SHALL happen. Even if they have to postpone June. Maybe he will be back on May 48th. Ah, the arrogance. The medical expertise. The never ending mumble speak of the most uniformative organization of baseball. Spending Easter at Our Lady of Never Ending Booboo. With an elegant meal of pulled ham, tender elbow macaroni and has beans.
I’m sorry to hear about your case of the butthurts as well. Hope you feel better soon. Happy Easter!
John Sterling is an icon. Baseball was made for radio and he is a maestro.
Yuck. Can’t stand Sterling. More concerned with his own catch-phrases than he is actually calling the game.
Yankees made a mistake in not bring back Didi. Torres is not a good shortstop and it effects his hitting.